Larus crassirostris
The Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) is a strikingly handsome medium-sized gull, instantly recognizable by its distinct, fully black tail, a feature unique among gulls in its range. Adults boast a pristine white body, a pale to medium gray back and upperwings, and black primary tips. Its robust, yellow bill is marked with a prominent black band near the tip, which is then capped with red, while its legs are a bright yellow. Measuring about 43-50 cm (17-20 in) in length with a wingspan ...
Primarily a coastal species, found along rocky shores, islands, cliffs, and estuaries, often foraging in marine environments and intertidal zones.
An omnivorous and opportunistic feeder, primarily consuming small fish, marine invertebrates (crustaceans, mollusks), insects, eggs and chicks of other birds, carrion, and human food waste.
Black-tailed Gulls are diurnal and highly social birds, especially outside the breeding season, forming large feeding and roosting flocks. They are opportunistic foragers, employing various strategies including plunge-diving for fish, surface-feeding, scavenging human refuse at ports and landfill...
The Black-tailed Gull's breeding range is concentrated in East Asia, spanning coastal areas and offshore islands of Japan, the Korean Peninsula, northeastern China (Shandong, Liaoning, Hebei provinces), and southeastern Siberia, including the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. During the non-breeding se...
Least Concern
- The Black-tailed Gull is one of the few gull species worldwide with a completely black tail in adult plumage, making it highly distinctive. - In Japan, it is known as 'Umineko' which translates to 'sea cat' due to its characteristic, cat-like mewing calls heard in breeding colonies. - The large...